PARIS: French farmers had sown 12pc of the expected area for next year's soft wheat harvest as of Oct. 12, farm office FranceAgriMer said on Friday.

That compared with 6pc a week earlier and 16pc in the corresponding week last year, it said in a cereal crop report.

For winter barley, farmers had sown 17pc of the expected area by Oct.12, compared with 5pc a week earlier and 32pc by the same time last year.

Maize harvesting was 64pc complete by Oct. 12, compared with 49pc a week earlier and 26pc last year.